St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-04-23

god has two statues at Luxor. an
was employed in binding the throne
Of the Pharoahs with the lotus an
papyrus Of Upper Egypt. The Greek
used to say it was easier to fin
. god than = man on the Nil
banks. and we readily imagine idols o
the beneficent deity ever present on tn
shores of Father Nilus. The water wa
SO delicious, the old Sultan transporte,
it to Constantinople. Persian King
carried it with them for their banauets
and Roman general rcbnked his sol
diers for demanding wine in its pres
ence.
The rise begins at Syene. and in an
cient days the priests. in gorgeous gar
ments. with music and solemn incanta
ton chanted their hymns. and speedet
forward the torrent rushing toward thu
thirsty sands. That solemnity was tn,
grandest event Of the year, and wa.
celebrated with incredible pomp.
lovely virgin of noble birth was crowned
with garlands, and thrown into th.
river, the bride of the Nile, to insure .
plentiful inundation and generous har
vest.
The Arab conqueror abolished the
heathen sacrifice. and the river did moi
rise for three months after the usual time
OF increase. The people were fright.
ened. and Amrou wrote to Caliph Omar
to tell what was done. and of the
threatened calamity. Omar returned
brief answers. expressing appreciation
OF Amrou's action. and enclosing, in a
letter. note to be thrown into the
Nile. 1t ran as follows: From ADD
Allah. Prince Of the Faithful. to the Nile
Of Egypt. II thou flowest Of thine
own accord, then cease to flow; but il
it be God. the Almighty. who causeth
thee to fow. then we implore God. the
One. the mighty, to let thee flow."
Amrou .obeyed the command Of the
Caliph. and 10! the river rose sixteen
cubits the following night. In Cairo
the breaking Of the Nile is still cele-
brated. The dahabeeyahs are illu-
mined with lanterns and dressed with
flags, little boats fly across the twink
ling waters. and the air resounds with
melancholy hymns of women in chorus
Of song, ending in wailings any thing
but festal to our ears. In the tents on
shore are dancers, musicians, reciters.
laughter and feasting. vari-colorcd
lights, and dazzle Of bright arms and
costume.
At midnight the men begin to work
on the dyke. and at dayb the Khe-
dive and attendant officials. in splendid
uniforms. appear in tent overlooking
the embankment. and testify that the
Nile has reached the height for burst
ing the dyke. The testimonial is for
warded to the Sultan. The Khetlive
scatters small coin in the shallow edge
Of the river. the poor dive for them in
the mud. and evil-mindcsl and malicious
tourists say the small coin grows small
er. and fewer in number. every year.
There are misty legends that the
bride Of the Nile is now represented by
waxen image Of girl. blooming and
decked in bridal robes: hut could find
no foundation in truth for the story
Nor could learn when and where it
was the custom TO seal a mummy finger
in costly casket. and fling it an offer
ing to the god of the bursting river.
One remnant Of the obsolete cere-
mony survives in the rigging OF large
boat called Akabeh BY the Arabs. 1t is
painted in brightest colors and illum-
ined with flaring lamps and streamers.
You may leave Cairo IN the afternoon
on this sacred vessel, and sail to the
Isle Of Rhoda Tor roses), and from its
deck watch the night-long pageant.
In the rosy glow Of morning rockets
and cannon. and thunderous shouts Of
multitntles announce that the Nile has
risen.
At Rhotla. the traveller may see the
NilOmeter or measurer of the overflow
"A deep well connected with the river
BY a subterranean canal. so the height
II the water in the well is precisely that
# the Nile. In the center is an ex-
,eedingly slender eight-sided pillar, on
which exact markings Of the rise are
zept. Under twenty-four feet gives a
cant harvest; under eighteen feet
means famine for thousands. The six
eenth cubit indicated on the Nilometer
s called the '.Sultan's water" the
ltax being remitted If the river
ais of this height.
The visitor may go down the steps
l did not, and read for himself the
ecord, and find the water level. And
rom this exquisite isle-ah, how that
sight comes back to me now!
he has the finest view Of the most i'm
'osing of oriental ceremonials. A
play of night and day, 50 a1ame
Nth shifting color. and alive with
movement and resonant minstrelsy.
hat our widest festivals in comparison
re poor, tame and dull.
No words Of mine can give an idea Of
he Babel Of language. the tumultuous
ejoicing.- always within the limits Of
ecency and sobriety. Maskers in form
ess mantles glide like ghosts through
he crowd, and what wild uproar when
ne is discovered through his disguise
nd struggles away again to some
hade.xy column, which may screen him
rOm the searching blaze Of the Ian
erns! A sense Of the superhuman
ONES to the mind of one for the first